Fiber management arrangement and method for additive manufacturing system

Abstract

A method is disclosed for fabricating an object. The method may include discharging a material through an outlet of a print head, and moving the print head during discharging to form the object with the material. The method may also include moving the outlet of the print head a distance away from the object to provide a clearance between the outlet and the object, moving a cutting mechanism through the clearance toward the material, and causing the cutting mechanism to sever the material at a distance away from the outlet of the print head.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of fabricating an object, the method comprising:
 discharging a material through an outlet of a print head;   moving the print head during discharging to form the object with the material;   moving the outlet of the print head a distance away from the object to provide a clearance between the outlet and the object;   moving a cutting mechanism through the clearance toward the material; and   causing the cutting mechanism to sever the material at a distance away from the outlet of the print head.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein severing the material includes severing the material at a location outside of the print head. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein severing the material further includes activating the cutting mechanism at least during a time at which the cutting mechanism is moved through the clearance. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein activating the cutting mechanism includes causing an additional motion of the cutting mechanism that is different from the motion of the cutting mechanism through the clearance. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein moving the outlet of the print head away from the object includes moving the outlet along a trajectory that is at an oblique angle relative to an axis of the material at an end of a path. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein moving the outlet of the print head away from the object causes the material to be pulled out of the print head. 
     
     
         7 . A method of fabricating an object, the method comprising:
 discharging a material through an outlet of a print head;   moving the print head during discharging to form the object with the material;   moving the outlet of the print head a distance away from the object to provide a clearance between the outlet and the object;   moving a cutting mechanism through the clearance toward the material; and   causing the cutting mechanism to sever the material and leave a tail of the material extending out of the outlet.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein severing the material includes severing the material at a location outside of the print head. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein severing the material further includes activating the cutting mechanism at least during a time at which the cutting mechanism is moved through the clearance. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein activating the cutting mechanism includes causing an additional motion of the cutting mechanism that is different from the motion of the cutting mechanism through the clearance. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein moving the outlet of the print head away from the object includes moving the outlet along a trajectory that is at an oblique angle relative to an axis of the material at an end of a path. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein moving the outlet of the print head away from the object causes the material to be pulled out of the print head. 
     
     
         13 . A method of fabricating an object, comprising:
 discharging a material through an outlet of a print head along a path;   moving the print head during discharging to form the object with the material; and   at an end of the path, moving the print head away from the object at an oblique angle relative to an axis of the material at the end of the path.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further including severing the material after moving the print head away from the object at the oblique angle. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein severing the material includes severing the material at a location outside of the print head and offset from an outlet of the print head. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein:
 moving the print head away from the object provide clearance for a cutting mechanism; and   severing the material includes moving the cutting mechanism through the clearance.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein moving the print head away from the object causes the material to be pulled out of the print head. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein severing the material includes activating a cutting mechanism and moving the cutting mechanism toward the material. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein activating the cutting mechanism includes causing an additional motion of the cutting mechanism that is different from the motion of the cutting mechanism toward the material. 
     
     
         20 . A system for additively manufacturing an object, the system comprising:
 a support;   a print head having an outlet configured to discharge a material and a cutting mechanism configured to sever the material, the print head being connected to and moved by the support; and   a controller in communication with the support and the print head, the controller being configured to:
 cause the support to move the print head during discharging along a path to form the object with the material; and 
 at an end of the path, causing the outlet of the print head to move away from the object at an oblique angle relative to an axis of the material at the end of the path.